Calgary's fine-dining restaurant Eight has achieved the number two spot on North America's 50 Best Restaurants list, a prestigious ranking voted on by The North America's 50 Best Restaurants Academy. This academy comprises 300 members, each selected for their expert opinion on the restaurant scene across the continent. The panel is divided into eight regions, each with its own chairperson and panel members. The list includes restaurants from the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean, excluding Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
An Exclusive Speakeasy Experience
Hidden behind a discreet door in the lobby of the Alt Hotel East Village, Eight offers a speakeasy-like atmosphere that emphasizes exclusivity. The restaurant seats only eight diners at a time, providing an intimate chef's table experience led by renowned Canadian chef Darren MacLean. Guests are seated at the bar with a front-row view of the open-concept kitchen, where servers guide them through a menu of approximately 20 small courses. Each dish is crafted using seasonal, local ingredients, with a focus on Canada's cultural heritage and regional diversity. The chef engages with guests during meal preparation, explaining techniques and ingredient choices.
Unique Dining and After Eight Speakeasy
Eight describes its daily crafted menu as cuisine defined by location, culture, and circumstance, as well as the chaotic interplay of these elements. Before and after dinner, guests are invited to After Eight, a speakeasy inspired by the Japanese concept of Satoyama, the transitional zone between mountains and the sea. This exclusive bar is open only to Eight diners before and after dinner service but is accessible to the public at other times. To enter, guests pick up a white telephone in the hotel lobby, and a server leads them to the bar.
In addition to its ranking, Eight received an award for Highest New Entry from the same academy, further cementing its status as a standout culinary destination in North America.
